About the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
About the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Environmental education At the heart of the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre About the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is Malawis only wildlife rescue facility. Set in a beautiful 180-hectare reserve in the heart of the
About the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is Malawi’s only wildlife rescue facility. Set in a beautiful 180-hectare reserve in the heart of the capital, Lilongwe, LWC is the city’s most prominent natural green space and a critical part of Lilongwe’s unique cultural history and increasingly fragile biodiversity.
Established in 2008 | Supports approximately 200 animals at any one time World renowned for high welfare standards | PASA and GFAS accredited
A decade after it was established, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is in urgent need of protection. The city of Lilongwe is growing rapidly and its green spaces are under threat from urban encroachment and
- deforestation. Many have already been destroyed.
In recent years, deforestation and urban build-up within the city, coupled with climate change, has caused increased frequency of flooding along the Lingadzi River that runs through the centre site. This has caused significant damage to infrastructure.
Preserving the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
2020 redevelopment strategy
Goal: Increase animal welfare standards by improving the animal clinic, enclosures, quarantine and
- rphan care facilities.
Goal: Turn LWC into a gold-standard educational facility to inspire Malawi’s next generation of conservationists. Goal: Ensure LWC is Lilongwe’s premier destination for recreation, education and engagement with nature. Goal: Establish LWC as a beacon of environmental sustainability in Malawi.
ANIMAL WELFARE EDUCATION
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
SUSTAINABILITY
Redevelopment projects
Rescue centre and sanctuary Clinic and quarantine Volunteer housing Educational facilities Visitor hub Sustainable strategies
PUTTING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE HEART OF LWC
Why environmental education?
Malawi is facing a number of serious environmental crises, from deforestation and pollution to the illegal trade in wildlife products.
- 50% of the country’s forests have
been lost over the last 40 years
- 60% of land is affected by soil
erosion
- Poaching causes annual economic
losses of USD 8.4 million By inspiring and empowering people to safeguard their natural heritage we can stem this cycle of decline.
The LWC is uniquely positioned to act as the country’s leading facility for conservation education, inspiring Malawi’s next generation to safeguard its wild animals and habitats. Since it launched in 2009, our environmental education programme has reached over 175,000 children across Malawi.
Inspiring the next generation
Our vision
We have developed an ambitious plan to create a pioneering ‘education zone’ at the heart of the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. The cornerstone of this zone will be a new, state-of-the-art education centre that will serve as the country’s leading facility for environmental education. The aim is to inspire children to value and protect their natural heritage for future generations.
Education zone
Educational elements
A diverse programme of classes, exhibitions and activities A trail system offering interactive educational opportunities throughout the site An elevated boardwalk to replace the existing playground, which will allow children to engage more closely with nature and minimize the impact on their surroundings An outdoor amphitheatre to aid in the teaching of outdoor classes or showing performances or talks Others TBC….
How can you help?
There are a number of ways you could support us:
- Make a donation either
individually or through your company
- Provide in-kind support e.g.
building materials, technical assistance etc.
- Introduce us to a potential
supporter If you would like to be part of this exciting project please get in touch with our Centre Manager, Ian D’heygere, on ian@lilongwewildlife.org.
OTHER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Animal care
Changes to the rescue centre are all based on the main objective of improving animal welfare § Improved enclosures, clinic, quarantine and orphan care to improve quality of life for animals § Relocation of education centre will reduce disturbance of animals and diminish interaction between large school groups and other visitors § Transfer of all sanctuary animals to form a strip running parallel to the main trail, meaning no visitors will come near the rescue animals § Less interaction with rescue animals will lead to more successful releases § Future enclosures have been allocated and can be developed based on future demand
Animal care
Volunteer housing & visitor hub
§ Visitor hub will include:
- Botanic garden
- Educational boardwalk
- Bridges
- Improved trails with opportunity
for cycling
- Canopy walk
§ Parking capacity increased from 20 to 60 spaces § Renovation for comfort and a clearer separation of accommodation and work spaces § Ventilation improvements to reduce the need for electrical cooling systems
VOLUNTEER HOUSING VISITOR HUB
Volunteers & visitors
Building capacity
Our high quality volunteer and internship programmes attract numerous vets and vet students each year. A new state-of-the-art veterinary clinic will allow a solid partnership with LUANAR, with increased capacity to allow more educational activities. New and improved clinic facilities will enable us to build the capacity of local and international students and train veterinarians who can be employed by DNPW.
Building capacity
Sustainable strategies
§ The choice of materials will focus
- n use of rammed earth, soil
stabilised blocks and improved air circulation and lighting to diminish energy requirements § Sustainable strategies include:
- Elimination of inefficient energy
and water systems
- Hybridisation of spaces
- Minimisation of landscape
disturbance
- Zero net energy building
- Adaptive re-use of existing
buildings Sustainability will be a guiding principle throughout the redevelopment process